NHL, players' union to try negotiations again

The NHL and the players' union are scheduled to hold labor talks today in Toronto.

It will be the first meeting since March17 when the NHL gave the union two proposals.

One proposal was a salary cap of $37.5-million per team with no linkage - tying player costs to league revenues.

The second offer was based on linkage with the players getting 54 percent of the league's revenues.

The league has given the union until Friday to negotiate a proposal that does not include linkage.

The Boston Globe reported Sunday the union might make an offer that includes a salary cap of $42.5-million, a salary floor of $34-million and each team could have a "franchise player" who would not be included under the salary cap.

Canada's Sports Network reported, however, the union might not make a proposal, and instead use today to simply exchange philosophies with the league.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Sarah Parsons had two goals and an assist to lead the U.S. women 8-2 over China in their opening game in Norrkoping, Sweden. Defending champion Canada routed Kazakhstan 13-0.

SWIMMING

Phelps nabs 3rd win

Michael Phelps , who yielded his spot on the U.S. gold medal 400-meter medley relay to Ian Crocker at the Athens Olympics last summer, caught his longtime friend and rival at the finish and won the 100 butterfly at the U.S. trials for the world championships in July. It was the third victory of the Indianapolis meet for Phelps, who trailed Crocker (51.45) by more than a half second at the turn but pulled ahead to win in 51.34. Phelps also won the 200 and 400 freestyle races.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Olympic champs triumph

Olympic gold medalists Misty May and Kerri Walsh opened their 2005 season the same way they ended 2004 - looking nearly unbeatable. Top seeds May and Walsh defeated fourth-seeded Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder 21-18, 21-19 to win the title at the $175,000 Fort Lauderdale Open, the first event of the AVP Tour season. In their past 24 events, May and Walsh have collected 21 championships

CYCLING

Armstrong fades at end

Lance Armstrong finished 28th in the Ronde of Flanders in Brussels, which was won by Belgium's Tom Boonen . Armstrong was among the leaders most of the way but dropped back with 15 miles left. The Texan is tuning up for the Tour de France in July, when he will attempt to win the title a seventh straight year. Boonen split from a breakaway group in the final stages and won the 159-mile race in 6 hours, 22 minutes, 49 seconds.

ET CETERA

ARENA FOOTBALL: Former Buccaneer Joe Hamilton threw a career-high 362 yards and seven touchdowns to help host Orlando beat Los Angeles 55-54 in overtime. The win put the Predators (7-3) in a tie for first with Georgia in the Southern Division. Tampa Bay (5-4) remained 11/2 games back.

BOWLING: Patrick Allen beat Chris Loschetter 235-210 to win the PBA World Championship in Ypsilanti, Mich. Allen, the No.1 player in national point standings, also received $120,000 and a four-year tour exemption.

HORSES: Harvard Avenue rallied from last place entering the stretch and beat Rushin' to Altar by a half-length in the $194,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita. Harvard Avenue covered 61/2 furlongs in 1:16.12 and returned $12.60, $6.60 and $4.40.